Bushing connector



C. G. DUENKE ETAL May 23, 1967 BUSHING CONNECTOR Filed sept. 14

United States Patent Oce 3,321,735 Patented May 23, 1967 3,321,735RUSHING CONNECTUR Clarence G. Duenke, St. Louis, and Fred 0. Engert,

Afton, Mo., assignors to Washington Electrical Products Company,Washington, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Sept. 14, 1964, Ser.No. 396,025 4 Claims. (Cl. 339-202) This invention relates to -a bushingconnector and particularly to a bushing connector mounted in the side ofa transformer housing. A particular feature of the bushing connector isits construction with threaded parts adapted to clamp an electric cablewith provisions for complete removal of the threaded parts for serviceor replacement.

Generally speaking, the invention comprises a porcelain body havingmeans for mounting the body to the side of a transformer housing. Anelectrical conductor extends through the porcelain body as is normal. Aconnector is fitted within a recess in the outer end of the porcelainbody and is fastened to the electrical conductor which extends throughthe Iporcelain body. The connector is electrically conductive.

The connector has a bifurcated hook arrangement which releasably securesan eyebolt. The eyebolt is threaded into an insulating handle which isaccessible from beyond the free end of the porcelain body. When thehandle is rotated, the relatively movable parts of the eyebolt and thebifurcated hook are drawn tightly around a conductive cable, and whenthe handle is rotated in the opposite direction, the cable can bereleased. When the handle is rotated suiciently in a cable-releasingdirection, the eyebolt may be extended far enough from the handle tobecome free of the bifurcated hook on the connector. Then, when thehandle and eyebolt are slid laterally, the handle and eyebolt assemblymay be completely removed from the body.

The general object of this invention is to provide a bushing connectorhaving the foregoing features and advantages. Particularly, -an objectof the invention is to provide a bushing connector wherein all threadedparts are completely removable for repair or replacement withoutdisassembly of the bushing or even removal of the bushing from thetransformer housing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bushing connector havingan eyebolt threaded into a handle and removably retained by a bifurcatedhook wherein the eyebolt can be threaded relatively away from theh-andle to enable removal of the eyebolt, and wherein there are means inthe construction of the threads to prevent inadvertent separation of thehandle and the eyebolt.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in theart.

In the drawing:

FIGURE lis a fragmentary schematic side elevation view showing a portionof a transformer housing, the bushing connector of this inventionmounted to the side of the transformer housing, and a lightning arresterpositioned in .proximity -to the bushing connector, all shown on a smallscale;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view in section through the central axis of thebushing connector;

FIGURE 3 is a view in section ytaken along the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view in section taken along the line 4 4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation view on a reduced scale showing theconnector and handle removed from the rest of the bushing with theeyebolt extended from the handle for removal of the handle and eyeboltfrom the connector;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation view of the handle and eyebolt only rotatedfrom the position illustrated in FIGURE 5 and FIGURE 7 is a side view ofthe connector.

Referring now to the drawing, this bushing connector 1) is adapted to bemounted in the side wall 11 of a transformer housing 12. A lightningarrester 13 is also mounted in the side wall 11 of the housing as shownin FIGURE l.

The bushing connector 10 has a porcelain body 15 with an inner end 16which projects through the side wall 11 into the interior of thetransformer housing 12. There are threads 17 on the outer side of theporcelain body 15 adjacent the inner surface of the wall 11, and ashoulder 18 adjacent the outer surface of the w-all 11. A gasket 19 ispositioned between the wall 11 and the shoulder 18, and a grip nut 20 isthreaded onto the threaded portion 17 of the body 15 to tighten the body15 against the housing wall 11.

The porcelain body 15 has an axial passage 22 through it extending fromthe inner end 23 to a larger recess 24 in the outer end 25. An annularshoulder 26 connects the passage 22 and the recess 24. A sleeve 27 ispressfitted into the passage 22 adjacent the shoulder 26.

The connector 3) comprises a casting 31 made of electrically conductivematerial. The casting 31 has a hub 32 which projects into the passage22. An annular shoulder 33 surrounds the hub 32 and overlies theshoulder 26. A gasket 34 is positioned between the shoulders 26 and 33.

A stud 35 is threaded into the hub 32. The stud 35 has a threaded.portion 36 terminating in a larger diameterV stop 37. There is `agasket 38 positioned Ibetween the stop 37 and the sleeve 26. Thus thestud 35 can be threaded into the hub 32 until the .gasket 38 and thegasket 34 are pressed tightly on opposite sides of the sleeve 27. Theinsulated conductor 40 which extends into the transformer housing 12 hasan end 41 extending tightly into the stud 35 to make electrical contacttherewith.

As shown in FIGURES 5 and 7, the casting 31 has an end '44 opposite thehu'b`32 that generally forms a hook, the end 44 having a straightportion 45 extending away from the shoulder 33 on one side of thecentral axis of the casting 31. There is then a cross portion 46 and areturn portion 47. There is a cutout 48 through the center of the crossportion 46 and the return portion 47 to provide spaced prongs 49 and 50.The ends 51 of the prongs 49 and'50 on the return portion 47 are spacedfrom the shoulder 33.

The shaft 54 and eye 55 of the eyebolt 56 can slide through the space 48between the prongs 49 and 50. The eye 55 has a hole 57 through it. Onthe side'of the eye 55 opposite the shaft 54 there areoppositely-extending arms 58 and 59 as shown in FIGURE 6. The totalwidth of the bar defining the arms 58 and 59 is greater than the wid-thof the space 48 between the arms 49 and 50. However, the width of theeye 55 and the shaft 54 as viewed in FIGURE 6 is less than the width ofthe space 48. v

A phenolic handle 62 is permanently attached to a metal hub 63. The hub63 has a recess in it having two sets of internal threads V64 and 65separated by an unthreaded section 66. The Unthreaded section 66 is oflarger diameter than the threaded sections 64 and 65 to precludeinterference with use of the threaded sections 64 and 65.

The shaft 54 leading from the eyebolt 55 has two threaded sections 67and 68. The threaded sections 67 and 68 are separated by an Unthreadedsmaller diameter section 69. The threaded sections 67 and 68 can makethreaded engagement with either threaded section 64 or 3 65. The lengthsof the threaded sections 64 and 68 are substantially equal to orslightly less than the lengths of the unthreaded sections 66 and 69.There is a lock washer 70 between the hub 63 and the casting 31, asshown in FIGURE 2.

The body 15 has two holes 72 and 73 through it (see FIGURE 4), generallyaligned with the hole 57 through the eyebolt 55 when the eyebolt is inthe position illustrated in FIGURE 2. In FIGURE 2, the hole 57 ispositioned between the straight portion 45 and the return portion 47,and is not blocked by the cross portion 46.

The body 15 has another hole 74 through its lower side in communicationwith the recess 24. A gap stud 75 is threaded into the connector casting31 for being positioned opposite the lightning arrester 13, to establishan appropriate gap as is known in the art. There is a hole 76 throughthe casting 31 to allow drainage of water through the hole 76 andthrough the hole 74.

In use, when this bushing connector is installed through the side 11 ofa transformer housing 12, it may engage a bare wire portion of anelectric cable 77 (see FIGURE l). Once the bushing connector 10 isinstalled on the transformer housing, it need never be removed unlessthe housing itself is broken. All other parts of the bushing connectorare separately removable from the porcelain body 15 while the body 15remains in place.

It is obvious from FIGURE 2 that the connector casting 31 threads ontothe stud 36 until the gaskets 34 and 38 are tightened against theopposing sides of the sleeve 27. The casting 31 is positioned so thatthe arrester gap stud 75 will project downwardly into the hole 74.

Ordinarily, the handle 62 and the eyebolt 56 are in such positions thatthe laterally extending arms 58 and 59 lie Ibetween the straight portion4-5 and the return portion 47 of the casting 31. This puts the eye' 55and sha-ft 54 in the space 48 between the prongs 49 and 50. When thehandle 62 is rotated, it threads the shaft 67 further into the hub 63 asthe hub and lock washer 70 bear against the casting 31 (as viewed inFIGURE 2). This draws the hole 57 of the eyebolt toward the crossportion 46 of the casting 31 and tightens the cable 77 between the hole57 and the cross portion `46. Rotation of the handle 62 in the oppositedirection, of course, loosens the connection to the cable 77 and thecable can be pulled free of the bushing connector.

If the eyebolt becomes damaged or worn, it is easily removed withoutdisturbing the position of the other parts of the bushing connector 10.This removal is done by rotating the handle 62 in a direction that willthread vthe shaft 67 toward the entrance of the recess in the hub 63.Since the threaded section 64 is slightly shorter in length than theunthreaded section 66 on the hub 63, the threads become disengaged whenthe section 68 reaches the unthreaded section 66. This position of thehub 63 relative to the shaft 54, however, has the eyebolt 56 extendedfar enough so that the lateral arms 58 and 59 are beyond the ends 51 ofthe prongs 49 and 50. The handle 62 can then be swivelled, as shown inFIGURE 5, to pass the Iextensions 58 and 59 beyond the ends 51 towithdraw '.the handle 62 and eyebolt 56 from the recess 24.

When the handle 62 and eyebolt 56 are thus freed, the yeyebolt 56 can becompletely removed by rotation of the handle 6-2 until the threads onthe section 68 engage the threads on the section 64. Replacement of thehandle 62 and the eyebolt 56 is the opposite to what has just beendescribed.

Various changes and modifications may be made within the purview of thisinvention as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Suchchanges and modifications are within the scope and teaching of thisinvention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

We claim:

1. A bushing connector comprising an insulating body adapted to bemounted in a side of a transformer housing, means ill the body t0receive an electrically conductive cable extending from the interior ofthe transformer housing to a point inside the body, an electricallyconductive casting in electrical contact with the cable, the castinghaving a bifurcated hook portion extending in a direction opposite theconnection to the cable, a recess in the end of the body which projectsaway from the transformer housing, lthe bifurcated hook portion beingpositioned within the recess, an eyebolt adapted to be received AWithinthe bifurcated hook portion of the casting, the eyebolt having laterallyprojecting arms, a threaded shaft extending from the eyebolt toward themouth of the recess in the body, a handle threaded onto the shaft fordrawing the eyebolt ytoward an opposing side of the bifurcated hookportion, the handle and eyebolt being removable frorn the casting whenthe handle is rotated in an unthreading direction.

2. The bushing connector of claim 1 including means requiring positionmanipulation of the handle and eyebolt to completely unthread theeyebolt shaft from the handle.

3. A bushing connector comprising a body of electrically insulatingmaterial, a passage through the body for receiving an electricalconductor, an electrically conductive member in the passage adapted tomake electrical contact with the conductor, a clamp device including athreaded shaft, an electrically insulating handle having a recess withinternal `threads complementary to the threads on the shaft, the shaftbeing drawn into the handle recess when the handle is rotated in onedirection and being driven toward the mouth of the recess when thehandle is rotated in the opposite direction, the member and the clamphaving mutually facing portions movable alternately toward and away fromone another when the handle is rotated alternately in the said one andopposite directions, means on the member and the clamp for preventingremoval of the clamp from the body except when the handle is rotatedsufficiently in the said opposite direction, the member having a basefor connection to the conductor to establish lthe aforesaid electricalcontact and having a hook, the hook comprising a straight portionextending from the base in a direction away from the base, a crossportion constituting the aforesaid portion on the member mutually facinga por-tion on the clamp, and a return portion, the return portion havinga free end spaced from the base, the clamp having a body, said portionon the clamp comprising part of the wall of a hole through the body, theclamp being movable upon rotation of the handle to adjust the positionof the hole relative to the said portions of the hook, the means forpreventing removal of the clamp from the body cornprising an armprojecting between the straight and return portions of the hook when thehandle is rotated in the first direction, the arm being passable betweenthe free end of the return portion and the base when the handle isrotated sufiicently .in the said opposite direction.

4. The bushing connector of claim 3 wherein the threads on the shaft andin the handle -recess have interrupted portions causing the shaft andhandle threads to become disengaged prior to complete removal of theshaft from the handle recess, the end of the shaft and mouth of thehandle recess having additional threads requiring mutual engagementbefore the shaft can be completely removed from the handle recess.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,453,761 1l/l948schoonmaker 339-109 2,672,595 3/1954 Barr 339-202 2,882,513 4/1959Olashaw 339-198 2,883,640 4/1959 Duenke 339-202 2,958,068 10/1960Lipinski 339-272 X MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

ALF-RED S. TRASK, RICHARD E. MOORE, Examiners.

1. A BUSHING CONNECTOR COMPRISING AN INSULATING BODY ADAPTED TO BEMOUNTED IN A SIDE OF A TRANSFORMER HOUSING, MEANS IN THE BODY TO RECEIVEAN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE CABLE EXTENDING FROM THE INTERIOR OF THETRANSFORMER HOUSING TO A POINT INSIDE THE BODY, AN ELECTRICALLYCONDUCTIVE CASTING IN ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH THE CABLE, THE CASTINGHAVING A BIFURCATED HOOK PORTION EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE THECONNECTION TO THE CABLE, A RECESS IN THE END OF THE BODY WHICH PROJECTSAWAY FROM THE TRANSFORMER HOUSING, THE BIFURCATED HOOK PORTION BEINGPOSITIONED WITHIN THE RECESS, AN EYEBOLT ADAPTED TO BE RECEIVED WITHINTHE BIFURCATED HOOK PORTION OF THE CASTING, THE EYEBOLT HAVING LATERALLYPROJECTING ARMS, A THREADED SHAFT EXTENDING FROM THE EYEBOLT TOWARD THEMOUTH OF THE RECESS IN THE BODY, A HANDLE THREADED ONTO THE SHAFT FORDRAWING THE EYEBOLT TOWARD AN OPPOSING SIDE OF THE BIFURCATED HOOKPORTION, THE HANDLE AND EYEBOLT BEING REMOVABLE FROM THE CASTING WHENTHE HANDLE IS ROTATED IN AN UNTHREADING DIRECTION.